This week, the Rural Center hand-delivered letters to members of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation supporting federal emergency supplemental funding for disaster recovery. Hurricane Matthew made landfall on October 8th and record-breaking rainfall followed causing devastation for families, infrastructure, businesses, and whole communities. The letter outlines specific priorities including the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Fund, multiple USDA programs and other critical needs for recovery in eastern North Carolina.

Derria and Barry Dixon (left) are working to recover from flood Damage at the offices of Dixon Social Interactive Services in Kinston (right).

The Rural Center made the first loan from the N.C. Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to Derria and Barry Dixon of Dixon Social Interactive Services. Dixon Social Interactive Services is a provider for Mental and Behavioral Health offering counseling, day treatment, and therapy to individuals as well as families with offices in Greenville, Kinston, New Bern, and Rocky Mount.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire staff of the N. C. Rural Center, we want to thank you for making the 2016 N. C. Rural Assembly a success. Our front porch conversation with rural leaders continued with great speakers, great resource organizations and presentations from the candidates seeking to lead our state in the years to come as Governor and United States Senator. We managed to celebrate some rural success through our six annual award winners, and we even enjoyed a trip down memory lane with Andy, Barney and Aunt Bea as we previewed a new documentary on "The Real Mayberry". It reminded us all of why we love and cherish our small rural North Carolina towns. We'll be posting all our conference presentations and content online shortly, and we'll be sending you a survey seeking your feedback in helping us plan for the 2017 N. C. Rural Assembly. It's less than a year away!

Rural Center impacts from the mountains to the coast

2015 was an incredible year for the Rural Center. Among the highlights: $8 million in loans and investments; more than 1,100 hours of microenterprise training; nearly 3,000 hours of leadership training and 1,500 jobs created.

Data snapshot: Median Household Income in North Carolina

Only nine counties in North Carolina exceed the national Median Household Income. Of these, three are rural.